Combined step-ladder, clothes-rack, and table-frame.



No, 727,352. v D PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

. J. GRAY. COMBINED STEP LADDER, CLOTHES BACK, AND TABLE FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1902. no MODEL. a SHEETS-SHEET a.

A Hi I No. 727,352. PATENTED MAY s, 1903. J. GRAY.

COM BINED STEP LADDER, CLOTHES RACK, AND TABLE FRAME.

APYLIOATION FILED SEPT.27,1902.

NO MODEL, a SHEETSSHEET 2.

No. 727,352. PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

J. GRAY. I COMBINED STEP LADDER, CLOTHES RACK, AND TABLE FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNrrnn STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GRAY, OF BELLE VERNON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,352, dated May 5, 1903. Application filed September 27, 1902, Serial No. 125,061. (No model.)

To all whom, it nmy concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN GRAY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Belle Vernon, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-in a Combined Step-Ladder,Clothes-Rack, and Ta hie-Frame, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in combined step-ladders and clothes-racks, and has for its main object to construct a device which may be readily converted so as to be employed as a step-ladder, as a clothes-rack, as the frame for a table, and to also provide a measuring device at a convenient point for use when desired.

To this end the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and then particularly pointed out in the claims, and in describing the invention in detail reference will he had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference will be employed for designating like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the stepladder, showing in dotted lines a part of the clothes-rack elevated to the supporting position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device in the form to be used as a step-ladder. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the step-ladder and clothes-rack, the supporting-arms of the latter being elevated to the supporting position and partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device, showing the same altered in form to act as a support or frame for a table-top. Fig. 6 is an end View of the same.

To put my invention into practice, I pro vide a pair of standards 1, rigidly connected at their upper ends to a top plate or head-block 2. These standards carry a series of steps 3, secured between the standards and preferably extending out in front of the same, as shown, to provide sufficient Width. To this end I preferably notch the. steps at the two inner corners, so that a part of the step set-s between the standards and a part thereof projects out in front of the standards. I also preferably support the steps throughout their length by fastening strips 4 directly underneath the steps to the standards. The middle one of these strips 4 is extended beyond the standards and carries pins 5 in its ends, to which hooks 6 are pivotally attached, the purpose of which will presently appear. Each of the standards is provided on its rear face or, edge with a series of notches 7, and secured to the two lowermost steps is a notched bar 8, the notches in the bar 8 beingin line with the notches in the rear edge of the standards. The top plate or block 2 is cut away on opposite ends in its upper faoe,and hinged to the upper face of the top plate or head-block in these cut-away portions is a pair of holders 9, in which is pivoted a series of clothes-supporting arms 10. These clothessupporting arms 10 are pivoted in the holders in pairs that is, one pivot-pin securing two of the supporting-arms--whereby when folded together the arms in each holder lie in three pairs. These arms when folded together and the holders folded down into the recesses lie parallel to the sides of the standards 1, and they are retained in this position by the hooks 6, which are extended across the arms after the latter are in the folded position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the hooks being engaged with pins 11, carried in extensions 12, secured to the rear face of the standards 1. When the supporting-arms 10 are elevated to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, or as seen in full lines, Fig. 3, they may be moved around, as shown in detail in Fig. 4,whereby a series of arms is provided for supporting the clothes at each side of the device. The standards 1 being at an incline it is of course necessary to provide a rear support for the ladder and clothes-rack, as well as the standards, which formthefrontsupport. Tothisendlp rovide a pair of rear supporting-standards 14, secured by hinges 15 to the rear edge of thetop plate 2. These standards are braced at their lower ends by a cross-bar 16. On the rear face of these standards 14, about midway of their length, is a pair of staples 01' eyes 17, which receive'trunnions 18, formed on the ends of a cross-bar 19. This cross-bar 19 is secured to an intermediate bar 20, arranged midway of the'distance between the two standards 14. At its lower end this intermediate bar 20 carries a cross-bar 21, shaped to engage the notches 7 of the standards 1 and the notched bar 8. This cross-bar 21 is braced to the bar 20 by brace-rods 22, as shown. At its upper end the bar 20 carries a cross-bar 23, which is on the opposite side to the bar 21 and is braced to the bar 20 by rods 23' in the same manner as the bar 21. A cross-strip 24, secured to the standards 14 near their upper ends, carries buttons 25, which engage the top cross-bar 23 and retain the bar 20 in its folded position, as in Fig. 2, which position it occupies when the device is being used as a step-ladder and clothes-rack. When, however, the device is to be used as a support for a table-top, as is seen in Fig. 5, then the buttons 25 are turned out of engagement with the top cross'bar 23, the cross-bar 21 is placed in one of the notches in each standard 1 and in the notched bar 8, and the top cross-bar 23 rests on the floor,as seen in Fig. 5, in which position a board or other suitable top may be placed thereon, so as to use the device for a table. When in use as a step-ladder and clothes-rack, the standards are held in the position in which they have been placed, Fig. 2, by means of a hook 26, carried by the uppermost step engaging in an eye 27, carried by the intermediate bar 20. When in use as a step-ladder, the scale 'or rule 28, atfixed to one of the standards 14, is in convenient position for whatever use may be desired for same. When the hook 26 is disengaged froin its eye 27, the standards 14, together with the intermediate bar 20, are folded in against the rear of the standards 1. I may also employ a cross-bar 29, secured to the inner faces of the standards 14 about midway of their length, so that when the intermediate bar 20 is folded it will rest against this bar, as well as the bars 21 23, engaging the standards 14.- In order to hold the clothes-supporting arms 10 in the horizontal or supporting position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, I provide hinged supports 30, attached by hinges, one to each of the standards 1, and which engagein notches provided therefor in the underneath faces of the holders 9. To disengage these supports, the arms 10 are simply elevated above the horizontal, and the supports are then free to be folded down against the sides of the standards 1, as are also the supporting-arms 10. With this construction it will be observed that a convenient and efiective device convertible into forms for various uses is produced, the changes necessary to adapt to one use or the other being quickly and easily made.

While I have herein shown and described the device in detail in regards to its construction, yet it will be observed that in the practice of the invention various changes may be made in the details without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully. described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A combination step-ladder, clothes-rack and table-top support, comprising in its construction a pair of front standards, steps carried thereby, a top plate to which the standards are rigidly secured, a pair of rear standards hinged at their upper ends to the top plate, holders hinged to opposite ends of the top plate, supporting-arms pivoted in pairs in said holders, means for connecting the rear and the front standards to hold the same in their relative positions, and an intermediate. bar pivoted to the rear standards, and free to swing between said standards, as and for the purpose described.

2. A combination step-ladder, clothes-rack and table-top support, comprising a pair of front standards, a top plate to which the standards are rigidly connected, a pair of rear supporting-standards hinged to the top plate, an intermediate bar pivoted to the rear supporting-standards and havinga cross-bar on one end for engagement in notches provided therefor in the rear face of the front standards, holders hinged to the top plate, supportingarms pivoted in pairs in said holders, means carried by the frontstandards for supporting the holders and supportingarms in the elevated position, and means for securing said arms in the folded position against the sides of the front standards, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a pair of front supporting-standards carrying steps, a top plate to which the standards are connected, a pair of rear supporting-standards hinged to the top plate, a pivoted intermediate bar adapted to be swung into engagement with the standards, means for securing said intermediate bar in its folded position between the rear standards, pivoted supporting-arms carried by the top plate, means for holding said arms in the elevated position, means for securing said arms in the folded position, and means for securing the standards in their relative positions when extended, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GRAY.

Witnesses:

A. M. WILsoN, K. H. BUTLER. 

